Subject: Eastern United States & Canada, Franklin
Period: 1809 (dated)
Publication: History of the Discovery...
Color: Hand Color
Size:
13.1 x 16 inches
33.3 x 40.6 cm
This great map of the fledgling nation includes numerous areas of interest, including the proposed state of Franklinia and the Spanish sponsored Morgania colony. In New England, Maine is shown with a truncated northern boundary, reflecting the British view of the border dispute. Georgia's western boundary is the Mississippi River. Florida, at the time a Spanish territory, is divided into East and West, with the notation "Land Claimed by the United States" on the northern boundary on the 31st parallel. A note above North Carolina and Tennessee states "Northern Boundary of North Carolina as far as the South Sea by the Charter of Charles II." The proposed state of Franklinia is located in eastern Tennassee. In 1785 settlers in present-day western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee organized a state government to be named in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Congress turned down their appeal but the fledgling state maintained a legislature and governor until 1788. To the west of the Mississippi is Morgania. This region was named after George Morgan, a land speculator, who attempted to create a new colony in the then Spanish controlled Louisiana Territory near New Madrid (Morgan gave up this endeavor a few years later).
This map is similar to Phillips' Map of the United States, Canada the River St. Lawrence, the Lakes &c. (1801), but the plate has been improved with additional place names and rivers and a re-engraved Yazoo River. This example, dated 1809 but published 1812, includes a new title at bottom right. It appeared in William Mavor's History of the Discovery..., which is sometimes included in Universal History, Ancient and Modern..., printed for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, also in 1812. Engraved by Smith & Jones, although their imprint does not appear on this state.
References: Dotson & Baker (OWA) #14b.3.
Condition: B
A crisp impression issued folding, backed in archival tissue repairing a 6" binding tear at bottom left, a few short fold separations, and some narrow wormtracks adjacent to the folds. There is light soiling, light toning along the folds, and a binding trim in the left margin.